Espresso brewing device

ABSTRACT

An espresso brewing device with a brewing unit, a magazine able to rotate via an electric motor and equipped with a magazine table ( 17 ) supporting several magazine tubes ( 20 ) located along its circumference and open below for holding single-serving capsules ( 16 ) containing coffee powder is provided with means for the individual dispensing of single-serving capsules ( 16 ) into the brewing unit and with a control system for controlling the rotation of the magazine table ( 17 ) up to the point where a magazine tube ( 20 ) containing the desired coffee type is in the dispensing position. In order to facilitate access to functionally-important parts, particularly the magazine, that are housed securely inside a casing, the brewing unit, the capsule conveying device and the magazine are positioned on a support frame ( 45 ) whereby the magazine, supported by a magazine drawer ( 18 ), is able to be pulled out.

The invention concerns an espresso brewing device according to thegeneric term of claim 1.

Such an already-known espresso brewing device consists of a brewingunit, a rotatable magazine—also rotatable via an electric motor—with amagazine table whereupon several magazine tubes also termed cartouchesfor holding single-serving capsules containing coffee powder arearranged approximately in the circumferential direction of the magazinetable (EP 1 460 366 A1). In order to feed the single-serving capsulesindividually into the brewing unit, a comparatively complicated levermechanism coupled with an electronic magnet is provided. The levermechanism acts upon swivel-mounted latches both of whose sides areprovided with a supporting surface each for supporting an individualserving of coffee. The latches take hold of a projecting edge of theindividual coffee servings that are stacked inside the magazine tubeswith their edges and thus their bases facing upwards. When the levermechanism is operated, the respective lowest single-serving capsuleseparates from the latches and drops into that part of the brewingchamber that was swivelled into position below the capsule, whereby thebrewing chamber is an integral part of the brewing unit. In order tobrew the coffee, the above-mentioned lower part of the brewing chambermust be swivelled to the upper part of the brewing chamber whose uppersurface is equipped with a piston-shaped stopper with pyramid-likeprojections and openings. Subsequently a ram is raised from the lowersurface of the lower part of the brewing chamber, entering thesingle-serving capsule in order to introduce hot water for brewing intothe individual coffee serving. After breaking the top-side base of theindividual coffee serving by means of the pyramid-shaped projections,the brewed coffee or espresso is able to flow out through the upperopenings of the stopper. Subsequently the brewing chamber is conveyedback to its original position and the now empty single-serving capsuleis ejected from the brewing chamber via the stopper that continues torise. The swivel mechanism and operational mechanism of the brewingchamber and of the stopper able to move therein are relativelycomplicated. It is not clear just how the empty single-serving capsuleis to be ejected completely, since a magazine tube is positioned rightabove when the brewing chamber is in its original position.—For theselection of a coffee type or rather a single-serving capsule containingthe desired coffee type, each magazine tube is provided with a windowpermitting the consumer to visually recognize which coffee type iscontained in the respective magazine tube, as well as recognize whichcoffee type is located above the brewing unit at this point and will beused next for brewing a cup of coffee. A colour identification, forexample, is suggested as a means of recognizing the desired coffee type.However, it is also possible to provide each single-serving capsule witha code able to be registered electronically via a suitable readingdevice in order to recognize single-serving capsules and particularlytheir contents. This recognition is utilized, for example, to show via adisplay which type of coffee is being used to brew the next cup ofcoffee. A further variation includes a control panel for the selectionof the desired coffee type whereby the magazine table is rotated bymeans of an electric motor until the respective magazine tube containingthe selected coffee type is in the effective position above the brewingunit. The means for achieving this are not shown. Recognition of a codeapplied on the circumference of a single-serving capsule whereby thecode could be scanned through a window appears difficult, if notimpossible, while the recognition of a code on the base of thesingle-serving capsule, for example, is out of the question since thebase is covered by the single-serving capsule stacked above it.

Another state-of-technology drink dispensing machine for drinks such ascoffee or tea is provided with a magazine table carrying a number ofmagazine tubes arranged along its circumference and holdingsingle-serving capsules (EP 1 002 490 A1). The magazine table can berotated via a drive sysstem, also a Maltese-cross-type drive ssystem, insuch a way that one magazine tube holding the desired single-servingcapsules can be positioned adjacent to a water/steam supplying device.From this position the bottom capsule of the single-serving capsulesstacked with their edge facing downwards can be pushed via a thrustingdevice into the position below the water/steam supplying device. Thethrusting device used for this purpose is located entirely within theconfiguration of the magazine tubes centrally above the magazine table.Although this machine is not very high, the water/steam supplying devicemust be located closely adjacent to the configuration of the magazinetubes due to the arrangement of the thrusting device.

For the horizontal conveyance of single-serving capsules to be selectedfrom a magazine with its magazine chambers arranged in a linear mannernext to each other and to be conveyed into a brewing unit positionedadjacent to the magazine at a certain distance from it, the use of aconveyor band is already known, whereby the conveyor band is essentiallylocated below the magazine chambers and is equipped with a deliverystation for the horizontal delivery of a selected single-serving capsulefrom the conveyor band to the brewing unit (U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,273).The linear configuration of the magazine chambers, however, requires acorrespondingly large extension of the entire assembly with regard toits breadth. In addition, conveyance and delivery of the selectedsingle-serving capsule from the magazine to the brewing unit necessitateexpensive technology.

In the case of another device for the brewing of beverages, a rotatabledrum with an intake opening for a selected single-serving capsule ispositioned below pipe-shaped magazine compartments whereinsingle-serving capsules are stacked with their base facing downwards(FR-A 1 564 088). The selected single-serving capsule is conveyed viathe drum to an opening within a stationary plate bar through which thesingle-serving capsule is conveyed to another conveying device for itshorizontal conveyance up to a beverage preparation unit, whereby thesingle-serving capsule is additionally tilted above this unit.—Thisassembly is complicated, since a selected single-serving capsule mustnot only be transported horizontally, but must also be released for itssectionally-controlled free drop, and must finally be tilted from itsposition inside the magazine where its base is facing downwards to theopposite position above the beverage preparation unit where its base isfacing upwards.

As far as the coding of the single-serving capsule and control of theespresso brewing device is concerned, single-serving capsules orcartridges for the preparation of foamed beverages provided with atleast a code or means of identification whereby the cartridge isidentified when the brewing device is being used and whereby thecartridge or its contents are made to undergo the correct operationalsteps, are already part of the present state-of-technology, includingthe introduction of a watery medium inside the cartridge (DE 694 00 787T2). The means of identification may include a bar code printed upon thebody of the cartridge and able to be scanned via an optical device. Themeans of identification may also include one or several strips of amagnetic material able to be read by a magnetic sensor. Preferably, thedevice for preparing beverages is designed in such a way that thecartridge is processed automatically once it has been inserted into thedevice.

In general, the use of single-serving capsules provided with means ofidentification and the identification of those means in order to handlethe single-serving unit and its contents correctly, and the introductionof liquid media into the capsule in particular, are revealed in EP 0 455337 B1.

In the case of another already-known device for the preparation of abeverage using a sachet or single-serving capsule, varioussingle-serving capsules are stored according to contents in differentstationary channels that can be opened via one associated actuatingbutton in order to remove a single-serving capsule (EP 0 334 573 B1).The manually-removed single-serving capsule is inserted into an openingbelow a brewing station in such a way that a micro switch is activatedvia the single-serving capsule in order to unblock the brewing process.Thus the micro switch serves to identify the correct position of thesingle-serving capsule before the watery medium is introduced.

It is the task of the present invention to further develop an espressobrewing unit of the generic type mentioned above, without consideringits control system at the moment, in such a way that while the lowheight of the unit is maintained, the access to functionally importantparts, particularly to the magazine serving to hold assorted stacks ofsingle-serving capsules, is improved although these parts are positionedsecurely inside a casing.

This task being the base of the invention is basically implementedaccording to the characterising part of claim 1.

The magazine table drawer able to be pulled out of the supporting frameof the espresso brewing device supports the magazine table provided withmagazine tubes positioned on top and with a pivot pin protruding belowfor mounting purposes inside the magazine drawer. For the control of itsdrive, the magazine table may be provided laterally with a zero settingreference mark, whereby a scanner contact or sensor is located in astationary position on the magazine table drawer in order to scan theabove-mentioned reference mark.—An advantage of the magazine tabledrawer is the fact that the magazine tubes can each be supplied easilyfrom above with single-serving capsules of one particular coffee type.The magazine drawer can then be pushed back into the device wherein themagazine table drawer with its associated elements, especially themagazine tubes holding single-serving capsules, is secure and can belocked, if necessary. In addition, maintenance is simplified due to thefact that the magazine drawer can be pulled out.

In this context it is especially advantageous if the magazine table withthe magazine tubes can be separated easily from the magazine tabledrawer. In this case several fairly basic magazine tables with magazinetubes containing single-serving capsules can be kept ready, so that theycab be interchanged quickly if necessary.

When various coffee types are kept ready for selection, each type mustbe stored in a different magazine tube in order to be identified. Withregard to the further characteristics of the device, in particular thescanning or reading of codes on the magazine capsules via at least onesensor or scanner, the single-serving capsules are placed into themagazine tubes with their base, i.e. their bottom membrane, facingdownwards. The brewing unit that is part of the espresso brewing deviceis further designed in such a way, as characterised below, that asingle-serving capsule oriented as described above is able to undergothe brewing process after being conveyed horizontally without turning.

Preferably, according to claim 3 the magazine tubes are each provided,in a lower section of their casing that is raised above the magazinetable, with a capsule magazine opening which opens radially outwardswith regard to the magazine table. A sliding path for the capsuleextends between the magazine table and the brewing unit, whereby onesingle-serving capsule at a time is able to slide, via a capsule gripperdriven by an electric motor, from a magazine tube in the dispensingposition up to the brewing unit. In the dispensing position the selectedmagazine is therefore rotated by the magazine table in such a way thatthe lowest of the single-serving capsules stacked with their basesfacing downwards is conveyed via the capsule gripper through the capsulemagazine opening of the magazine tube along the capsule slide path up tothe brewing unit.

In order to guide the capsule gripper within the magazine table areawhen one single-serving capsule is being ejected, the area below eachmagazine tube is provided, according to claim 4, with aradially-extending capsule ejection slot extending up to the outer edgeof the magazine table and open where it meets the edge. When one of themagazine tubes is in the dispensing position, the capsule ejection slotmeets a capsule gripping guide formed within the capsule slide path andextending up to the brewing unit. In order to guide the single-servingcapsules along the capsule slide path, the latter is provided withadditional means in the shape of capsule guides arranges essentiallyparallel to the capsule gripping guide, whereby the distance between thetwo capsule guides is somewhat greater than the diameter of thesingle-serving capsule in the area of its base, i.e. its bottommembrane.

The capsule gripper is part of the capsule conveying device, and for thepurpose of being operated according to claim 5 it is connected via adrive lever and drive mechanism elements with a capsule-conveyingdriving motor. The drive mechanism elements may include in particular aspeed reduction gear located at the capsule-conveying driving motor, anda driving disc connected to the speed reduction gear, whereby thedriving stud of the driving disc engages via a driving stud slot withthe actuating lever in a sliding manner near one of its ends. The otherend of the actuating lever, close to where the lever is mounted on agripping stud, is provided with a capsule gripping slot wherein thecapsule gripper is mounted in such a way that it is also able to slide.The entirety of the drive mechanism converts the rotation movement ofthe capsule-conveying driving motor into a linear guided movement of thecapsule gripper.

When the design of the magazine is low and compact and it is mainlypositioned adjacent to the brewing unit, the capsule-conveying device isdesigned in such a way that the single-serving units are conveyed onlyhorizontally with their base facing downwards. The capsule-conveyingdevice is essentially positioned between the magazine and the brewingunit.

For the actuation of the magazine table, i.e. in order to rotate aselected magazine tube into the dispensing position, the magazine table,according to claim 7, is in an actuation-connection with aMaltese-cross-type drive consisting of a driving motor, a drivemechanism and a Maltese-type disc with a driving stud and positionedbelow the magazine table on the support frame. Whenever the magazinetable is in operation, the driving stud is positioned closely adjacentto one of several Maltese-type gripping flanks located at the lowersurface of the magazine table. According to the arrangement of theMaltese-type gripping flanks, each of the magazine tubes positionedabove can be shifted step by step into the dispensing position. When themagazine table drawer is pulled out, the Maltese-cross-type drive can beseparated from the magazine table via removal of the Maltese-typegripping flank from the driving stud of the Maltese-cross-type drive.This is done easily, since the gripping flanks always assume a definiteposition according to the dispensing position of the magazine table.

For the purpose of its control, the magazine table should be providedwith a zero setting reference mark able to be scanned, whereby thisreference mark may be a cam, read mechanically via a controlled contact,or it may be a reference mark designed to be scanned optically ormagnetically. The scanner of the zero setting reference mark and atwo-direction meter counting all operational steps carried out by themagazine table in each direction of rotation, starting from a zeroposition of the magazine table, are part of an electronic positionrecognition device of the magazine table according to claim 9. Thisdevice is part of a logical control system controlling a set movement ofa randomly selected magazine tube using the shortest possible path inone of the two possible directions of rotation into the dispensingposition. The setting time can thus be minimized, whereby apart from azero position signal or impulse from the zero setting reference mark,only counting impulses according to the steps carried out by theMaltese-cross-type drive are required additionally.

For additional control, or as an alternative to the above-mentionedcontrol system, the magazine table is provided, according to claim 10,with transparent windows so that the base of a single-serving capsulecan be scanned, whereby one window is located below each magazine tube.For this purpose at least one sensor/scanner is located below themagazine table at the path of movement of the windows able to rotatetogether with the magazine plate and directed towards the respectivewindow. The base or a code applied to the base can be scanned throughthe window and can be converted into a corresponding impulse.

In particular, a sensor according to claim 11 may be located at thedispensing position, whereby the presence of a single-serving unitinside the magazine tube set in the dispensing position can be checked.Thus the possibility that a magazine tube associated with single-servingcapsules, especially those containing a particular coffee type, has beenset correctly but cannot supply a single-serving capsule to the brewingunit because it is empty can be prevented.

Instead, the magazine can already be checked while entering thedispensing position, not only to find out if there is at least onesingle-serving capsule in the corresponding dispensing tube, but also ifthat capsule contains the desired coffee type. This is done according toclaim 12. For this purpose a scanner is located in front of thedispensing position in the direction of rotation of the magazine table,whereby a code relating to the coffee type and applied to the base ofthe lowest-positioned single-serving capsule contained in the selectedmagazine tube can be read. Thus it can already be determined during thesearching part of the operation if the next magazine tube to enter intothe dispensing position contains a single-serving capsule with thedesired contents. In this case, registration of the respective positionof a defined magazine tube via a logical control system can be omitted,since the scanner located in front of the dispensing position is able toconvert the entrance of a selected magazine tube into a control signalvia a controlling device for the drive of the magazine table, so as tostop the movement of the magazine table in time once the selectedmagazine tube containing the desired coffee type enters the dispensingposition. Only one scanner located in front of the dispensing positionis sufficient in this case as long as the drive of the magazine tableallows for only one direction of rotation or shifting. However, if twoopposite directions of rotation or shifting for the entrance of arandomly-selected magazine tube on the shortest possible path into thedispensing position are possible, then both sides of the dispensingposition must be equipped with a scanner each.

Preferably, the magazine and the capsule conveying device interact witha compact brewing unit according to claim 13, whereby the brewing unitincludes a spindle piston, actuated via an electric motor and able to bevertically adjusted via rotation. The spindle piston is provided with aninner brewing chamber insert with a downward-projecting piercer forpiercing the capsule, whereby the piercer also contains brewing watersupply channels. The spindle piston can be lowered via rotation into abrewing position towards a capsule ejector able to swivel and towards aplate with pyramid-shaped projections. A capsule ejection lever engagingwith the spindle piston serves to swivel the capsule ejector upwardsinto an ejection position by raising the spindle piston once the brewingprocess is finished. Thus the spindle piston is able to assume threepositions via rotation, i.e. a receiving position for the single-servingcapsule that is pushed horizontally with its base or an outer bulgefacing downwards into the space between the spindle piston and thepyramid plate, a brewing position where the brewing chamber is closed bythe tight fit of the brewing chamber placed onto the pyramid plate withthe capsule ejector, and finally an ejection position where the spindlepiston is raised to its highest position, thus operating the capsuleejector.

According to claim 14, this brewing unit with a replaceable pyramidplate and with the capsule ejector on a pyramid support drawer able tobe pulled out of the brewing unit may preferably form a basic unitassembly group.

Ejection of the used single-serving capsule occurs automatically whenthe parallel-guided spindle piston is raised, whereby the capsuleejection lever guided in a sliding manner laterally grips the capsuleejector on one side. This results in the reliable ejection of thesingle-serving capsule, from the free space between the capsule ejectorand the raised brewing chamber insert, from the now open brewingchamber, without any direct manual manipulation of the single-servingcapsule.

For the accurate centering of the single-serving capsule prior to thebrewing process, the upper surface of the capsule ejector positionedabove the pyramid plate is equipped with a capsule centering device ableto interact in particular with the outer bulge of the capsule.

The single-serving capsule is guided via its outer bulge in a similarmanner along the horizontal capsule slide path between the magazine andthe brewing unit, via lateral capsule guides located in succession tothe capsule ejector guides, whereby the capsule slide path is part ofthe brewing unit.

A design type of the invention is further described below by means ofthe drawing with five Figures, which may result in furthercharacteristics and advantages of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a lateral view in partial cross-section of an essentialpart of the espresso brewing device with a brewing unit and a magazineas well as a capsule conveying device located between them,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view in partial cross-section of the essential partof the espresso brewing device according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3a shows as a detail of the brewing unit a spindle piston in areceiving position for a single-serving capsule,

FIG. 3b shows the spindle piston in a brewing position, and

FIG. 3c shows the spindle piston in an ejection position of the usedsingle-serving capsule.

The magazine storing assorted stacks of single-serving capsulescontaining various coffee types essentially includes a magazine table 17swivel-mounted inside a magazine plate drawer 18 via a magazine pivot 19in such a way that it can be removed easily, i.e. preferably withoutusing tools. The upper surface of magazine table 17 is equipped withfive magazine tubes 20 arranged along the circumference of magazinetable 17. Each magazine tube 20 is designed to hold a stack ofsingle-serving capsules 16 with their bottom membranes facing downwards,i.e. to hold magazine capsules 16 sorted according to the coffee typecontained therein, whereby each magazine tube 20 only sores capsulescontaining one type of coffee.

The magazine drawer 18 is guided on parallel guiding elements 46 so thatit is able to slide, i.e. so that it can be drawn out of the espressobrewing device. The guiding elements 46 project upwards from a supportframe 45 which also serves to support the brewing unit and the capsuleconveying device located between the magazine and the brewing unit.

A Maltese-cross-type driving device with a driving motor 30 actuating aMaltese-type disc 27 is provided for the detachable, precise actuationof magazine table 17. A driving pin 28 protrudes upwards from theMaltese-type disc, whereby the driving stud is able to reach itsintended position via one of several Maltese-type gripping flanks 58located at the lower surface of magazine table 17 when the latter is inits operational position with the magazine table drawer inserted intothe magazine table. The Maltese-cross-type drive serves to shift themagazine table 17 step by step in such a way that one of the magazinetubes 20 is in the exact position for dispensing one of the stackedsingle-serving capsules 16, in this case the magazine tube rotatedfurthest to the left, i.e. closest to the brewing unit. The dispensingposition is also termed removal position.

In order to dispense the lowest of the stacked single-serving capsules16 from the magazine tube 20 in the dispensing position, each magazinetube 20 has a capsule magazine opening 33 open towards the outside,through which the lowest magazine capsule can be pushed out from themagazine tube 20. A capsule gripper 23 serves to push out the capsule,whereby the gripper 23 engages with and is guided in a sliding mannerwithin a radially extending capsule ejection slot 49, open towards theoutside, that is located below each magazine tube 20. The capsuleconveying device associated with the capsule gripper is furtherdescribed below.

For the purpose of controlling the setting of the magazine table 17, thecircumference of the magazine table 17 is provided with a zero settingreference mark 47 able to be scanned via a stationary scanning contact48. For each of the two possible rotation directions of the magazinetable 17, additional scanners 55, 55 a are positioned below theturntable in front of the dispensing position. Alternatively, a sensor56 may be provided below the dispensing position. Each scanner 55, 55 aconsists of a scan transmitter and an encoder receiver of an opticscanner beam, whereby the encoder receiver is designed for the decodinga code applied to the base or bottom membrane of the single-servingcapsules 16. A receiver of sensor 56 may be of a simpler design, sinceit merely needs to register the presence or absence of a single-servingcapsule. For this purpose encoding of the capsules is not necessary.However, the code may contain further information, particularly withregard to the contents or the coffee type of the single-serving capsuleand/or concerning the manufacturer.

As shown in FIG. 2, the magazine table 17 is provided in the area belowthe magazine tubes 20 with windows 57 shaped as arched sections, so thatthe scanners 55, 55 a, or the sensor 56 are able to scan the bottommembrane of the single-serving capsules.

The capsule conveying device actuating the capsule gripper consists of acapsule-conveying driving motor 32 with a drive mechanism 31 equippedwith a driving disc 37 provided with a driving stud 38, cf. FIG. 1. Thedriving stud 38 engages with a driving stud slot 39 of an actuatinglever 24 positioned below the plane of the magazine disc 17, whose endnot provided with driving stud slot 39 is provided with a capsulegripping slot 40. A gripping pin 26 of the capsule gripper 23 engageswith capsule gripper slot 40. At its end adjacent to the driving studslot, the actuating lever 24 is swivel-mounted at a rotation bearing 25in order to assume the positions A, B and C represented by dotted linesin FIG. 2, whereby

A is the position at rest

B is the position of preparing for the ejection of a single-serving unitfrom a magazine tube in the ejection position

C is the final position during insertion of the single-serving capsuleinto the brewing unit.

The brewing unit, shown in its entirety on the left of FIG. 1, includesa casing base 1 with a pyramid-carrying drawer 12 not shown in anydetail in FIG. 1. A replaceable pyramid plate 13 is placed upon theframe-shaped pyramid-carrying drawer 12 in such a way that it cannotmove laterally, as well as a frame-shaped capsule ejector 14,swivel-mounted around a hinge 15 at the pyramid-carrying drawer 12. Thecapsule ejector 14 is equipped with a capsule centering device 36, andwith a capsule slide path 41 connecting the brewing unit with themagazine table, i.e. positioned closely adjacent to the edge of themagazine table with practically no gap existing, cf. FIG. 2. The capsuleslide path 41 is provided with a central capsule gripper 22, and withtwo capsule guides 21, whereby one each is positioned at the edge of thecapsule slide path next to the capsule gripper.

The brewing unit is also supported by the support frame.

The brewing unit further includes an upper casing 2 supporting a spindlepiston 3 with a 3-gear spindle 4, a spindle piston parallel guide 11 anda spindle piston drive.

The spindle piston drive consists of a driving motor 10, a drivemechanism 9 with a drive pinion 8 engaging with an outer gear toothsystem of a spindle piston drive gear 7. The latter is equipped with aninner gear tooth system corresponding to the 3-gear spindle 4.

A control system not shown here, such as an electro-optical encodercontrol system, serves to control the spindle piston drive, controllingthe adjustment of the spindle piston 3 to its three operating positionsshown in FIGS. 3a, 3 b and 3 c.

A brewing chamber insert 5 is inserted into a lower section of spindlepiston 3, whereby the upper part of insert 5 is equipped with a capsulepiercer 6 pointing downwards containing brewing water supply channels 42that are connected to a flexible brewing water supply tube.

The upper part of spindle piston 3 is equipped with a gripping ring 43,whereby a capsule ejection lever 35, suspended from gripping ring 43, iscoupled at its lower end with the capsule ejector 14 via a couplingelement not shown here.

The functional cycle of the described espresso brewing device is asfollows:

The magazine table drawer 18 is manually pulled out of the support frame45, and the magazine tubes 20 are stocked manually as well with thesingle-serving capsules 16. For this purpose, the magazine table 17 withthe magazine tubes 18 should preferably be separated from the magazinetable drawer 18. If various types of coffee are available for selection,each type is inserted into a different magazine tube associated with onetype of coffee to simplify identification. Once the capsule magazine hasbeen filled, it is pushed back into the guiding elements 46 of thesupport frame 45. During the stand-by operation of the espresso machinethe magazine table 17 with the magazine tubes 20 rotates automaticallyaround its pivot 19 by means of a Maltese-cross-type drive 27, 28, 29,30 and the Maltese-type gripping flanks 58 into the zero positionpredetermined by its zero setting cam 47 and the associated stationarycontrol contact 48. When the espresso machine is switched off, thisprocess is carried out once the machine is switched on. The magazinetubes are numbered according to their quantity. The stocking of eachmagazine tube with the various types of coffee can be programmed andrecalled when required by means of these numbers via a control panel.The process of finding the recalled magazine tube is carried out asfollows: the number of steps performed by the magazine table, startingfrom the zero position, is counted and stored by an electronic encoderunit and a memory unit, i.e. a meter. The circuit is designed in such away that the magazine table always takes the shortest possible path toreach the selected position, and the counting of the steps is thereforecarried out in an additive as well as a subtractive manner. The encodersignal may be transmitted either via a Maltese-cross-type drive or viathe rotating magazine unit, i.e. the magazine table 17 with the magazinetubes. Once the machine has been switched off or following a powerfailure, the position memory of the memory unit is deleted. When themachine is switched on again the magazine table 17 automatically assumesthe zero position, as described above. For the purpose of driving themagazine table 17, the Maltese-type drive 27 carries out one completerotation for every step taken by the magazine table. During the passageof the capsule, the sensor 58, positioned below or along thecircumference of the capsule magazine unit, verifies the presence of asingle-serving capsule 16 in the selected magazine tube as son as thelatter is in the ejection position. For this purpose coding of thesingle-serving capsules 16 is not necessary. If the single-servingcapsules are provided with a code concerning their content or with anadditional code concerning the manufacturer, the codes applied to thebottom membranes of the single-serving capsules 16 can be read by ascanner 55 or 55 a located below the magazine table 17 before thedispensing position with regard to the direction of rotation via atransparent window 57. In this case the spot check “capsule present” andthus sensor 56 can be omitted.

When the magazine table 17 has reached the selected position, conveyanceof the capsule begins so as to convey the selected single-servingcapsule 16 into the brewing unit. For this purpose the driving motor 32starts operation, swivelling the actuation lever 24 from its restposition A into the starting position B by means of the driving disc 37and the associated driving stud 38 positioned in the driving stud slot39 of the actuating lever 24. Meanwhile the capsule gripper 23, mountedin a sliding manner within capsule gripping guide 22, is pushed via itsgripping stud 26 located within the capsule gripping slot 40 of theactuation lever 24, under the lowest single-serving capsule of theselected magazine tube 20 and further along up to the starting positionB for the conveying purposes about to occur. During conveyance theactuation lever 24 is brought into position C via its driving elements,and the capsule is thus conveyed via the capsule gripper 23 along thecapsule sliding path 41 that is limited laterally by the capsule guides21 into the brewing unit. After conveyance is completed, the actuationlever returns to its starting position A.

After being conveyed to the brewing unit, the single-serving capsule 16is in the brewing position, whereby the capsule, having been centeredvia capsule centering device 36 that is part of capsule ejector 14, ispositioned on the capsule ejector 14 via its outer bulge 53 and abovethe pyramid plate 13. The capsule ejector consists of a plate, connectedvia hinge 15 with the pyramid drawer 12, having a circular centralrecess whose diameter corresponds to that of the single-serving capsule16 without its outer bulge 53, and of the capsule centering device 36 aswell as the coupling element connecting ejector 14 with the capsuleejection lever 35 in such a way that they can be separated. The pyramidsupport drawer 12 is designed as an element able to be drawn out of thebrewing unit and forms a basic unit assembly group together with thereplaceable pyramid plate 13 mounted within and the capsule ejector. Inorder to replace or to clean the pyramid plate, the pyramid drawer 12can be pulled out of the brewing unit, whereby the connection to thecapsule ejection lever 35 is interrupted via the coupling element.

Prior to the brewing process the spindle piston 3 is in its startingposition according to FIG. 3a. Once the single-serving capsule is insidethe brewing unit, the spindle piston 3 is lowered in a linear mannerinto the brewing position according to FIG. 3b during the course of theautomatic process as follows: searching operation of the magazine table17, conveying of the capsule 16 into the casing base 1 of the brewingunit and positioning of the centering device 36 of the capsule ejector14, whereby the spindle piston 3 is lowered via the actuated spindlepiston driving gear 7 and its inner gear tooth system engaging with the3-gear spindle gearing worm 4 via the parallel guide 11 engaging withthe spindle gearing worm 4. During this process the upper surface of thesingle-serving capsule 16 is pierced by the capsule piercer 6 so thatsubsequently the brewing water is able to flow into the capsule at apumping pressure of 10 to 15 bar and a temperature of approximately 96°C. via the flexible water supply tube 34 and the brewing water supplychannels 42 located inside capsule piercer 6. Thus the coffee powdercontained in the capsule is moistened and put under pressure. Only whenan inner capsule pressure of approximately 6 bar has been reached, themembrane forming the base of the capsule is pressed against thepyramid-shaped profile 50 of the contoured plate 13 and the membrane ispierced. Thus the brewing water can permeate the coffee powder and flowout via the draining holes 51 of the pyramid plate 13 and the outletopening 44 of the brewing unit. During the brewing process the loweredge of the brewing chamber insert serves as a pressure-resistantwatertight seal by pressing the single-serving capsules with their outerbulge 53 against the upper surface of the capsule ejector.

After completion of the brewing process whose length can be controlledvia preprogramming according to coffee type or beverage type, such asespresso or breakfast coffee, the spindle piston 3 is brought into theposition according to FIG. 3c via its driving elements. For this purposethe capsule ejector 14 is swivelled upwards around the rotational axisof its hinge 15 via the capsule ejection lever 35 suspended from theupper inner spindle piston gripping ring 43 connected via the couplingelement with capsule ejector 14, and the single-serving capsule 16 isejected from the brewing unit. Subsequently the spindle piston returnautomatically to its starting position according to FIG. 3a.

The drawings show only those parts and basic unit assembly groups thatare necessary for the process and for the understanding of the processand the various functions, represented schematically in a simplifiedmanner.

List of Reference Numbers:  1 casing base  2 upper casing  3 spindlepiston  4 3-gear spindle  5 brewing chamber insert  6 capsule piercer  7spindle piston drive gear  8 drive pinion  9 drive mechanism 10 motor 11spindle piston parallel guide 12 pyramid-supporting drawer 13 pyramidplate 14 capsule ejector 15 ejection hinge 16 single-serving unit 17magazine table 18 magazine table drawer 19 magazine table pivot 20magazine tubes 21 capsule guide 22 capsule gripping guide 23 capsulegripper 24 actuating lever 25 rotation bearing 26 gripping stud 27Maltese-type disc 28 Maltese-type disc pin 29 drive mechanism 30 motor31 drive mechanism 32 capsule-conveying driving motor 33 capsulemagazine opening 34 flexible water supply tube 35 capsule ejection lever36 capsule centering device 37 driving disc 38 driving stud 39 drivingstud slot 40 capsule gripping slot 41 capsule slide path 42 brewungwater supply channels 43 gripping ring 44 espresso outlet opening 45support frame 46 guiding elements 47 zero setting reference mark 48scanning/control contact 49 capsule ejection slot 50 pyramid contours 51draining holes 52 — 53 capsule bulge 54 edge of brewing chamber insert55, 55 scanner for monitoring capsule contents 56 sensor for monitoringpresence of capsule 57 sensor/scanner window 58 Maltese-type grippingflanks.

What is claimed is:
 1. Espresso brewing device with a brewing unit, with a magazine able to rotate via an electric motor and provided with a magazine table (17) supporting several magazine tubes (20), located along its circumference and open below, for holding single serving capsules (16) containing coffee powder, and with means for dispensing the single-serving capsules individually into the brewing unit, whereby a control system is provided for controlling the rotation of the magazine up to the point where a magazine tube containing the desired coffee type is in the dispensing position, characterised by the fact that the brewing unit, the capsule conveying device and the magazine are positioned on a support frame (45) and that the magazine is supported by a magazine table drawer (18) mounted on the support frame and able to be pulled out.
 2. Espresso brewing device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the magazine table (17) with the magazine tubes can be separated from the drawn-out magazine table drawer (18).
 3. Espresso brewing device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the magazine tubes (20) are each provided, in a lower section of their jacket located above the magazine table (17), with a capsule magazine opening (33) radially open towards the outside and serving as a passage for the lowest-positioned single-serving capsule (16) stored with its base facing downwards inside a magazine tube (20) whereby the capsule is pushed-out through the passage via an electromotive-actuated capsule gripper (23) when the magazine tube is in the dispensing position, and by the fact that a capsule sliding path (41) extends between the magazine table and the brewing unit whereby the pushed-out single-serving capsule (16) is able to slide further towards the brewing unit via the capsule gripper (23).
 4. Espresso brewing device according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that a capsule ejection slot (49) extending radially up to the outer edge of the magazine table (17) and open in that area is formed below each magazine tube (20), whereby the capsule ejection slot (49) meets a capsule gripping guide (22), formed from the capsule slide path (41) and extending up to the brewing unit, when one of the magazine tubes (20) is in the dispensing position, and by the fact that the capsule gripper (23) is guided, as part of a capsule conveying device, in a sliding manner within the capsule gripping guide (22) and the adjoining capsule ejection slot.
 5. Espresso brewing device according to claim 4, characterised by the fact that the capsule gripper (23) is connected inside the capsule conveying device with a capsule conveying driving motor (32) via an actuating lever (24) and drive mechanism elements (31, 37, 38, 40).
 6. Espresso brewing device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the magazine is essentially positioned adjacent to the brewing unit and that the capsule conveying device is designed only for the horizontal conveyance of the single-serving capsules (16) and is essentially positioned between the magazine and the brewing unit.
 7. Espresso brewing device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the magazine table (17) is in an actuation-connection with a Maltese-cross-type drive including a driving motor (30), a drive mechanism (29), a Maltese-type disc (27) with a driving pin (28) and positioned below the magazine table on the support frame, and by the fact that the driving pin (28) is in close touch with one of several Maltese-type gripping flanks (58) located at the lower surface of the magazine table (17).
 8. Espresso brewing device, especially according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the magazine table (17) is provided with a zero setting reference mark (47) able to be scanned.
 9. Espresso brewing device according to claim 8, characterised by the fact that the magazine table (17) is provided with an electronic position recognition device consisting of a scanner of the zero setting reference mark (47) and a two-direction meter counting operational steps carried out by the Maltese-type drive in each direction of rotation starting from a zero setting of the magazine table (17), whereby the position recognition device is part of a logical control system controlling a set movement of a randomly selected magazine tube using the shortest possible path into the dispensing position.
 10. Espresso brewing device, according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the magazine table (17) is provided in the area below each magazine tube (20) with a transparent window (57) for scanning the base of a single-serving capsule (16), and by the fact that at least one sensor/scanner (55, 56) is positioned below the magazine table (17) at the path of movement of the transparent windows able to rotate together with the magazine table (17) and is directed towards the path of movement of the respective window.
 11. Espresso brewing device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that a sensor (56) is located in the dispensing position for the purpose of monitoring the presence of a single-serving capsule (16).
 12. Espresso brewing device, especially according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that a scanner (55) is positioned before the dispensing position in the direction of rotation of the magazine table (17), whereby a code concerning the coffee type applied to the base of the lowest single-serving capsule (16) inside one of the magazine tubes (20) can be scanned.
 13. Espresso brewing device, according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the brewing unit includes a spindle piston (3) driven by an electric motor and provided with an inner brewing chamber insert (5) having a piercer pointing downwards equipped with inner brewing water supply channels (42) whereby the spindle piston (3) can be lowered into a brewing position (FIG. 3b) towards a capsule ejector (14) able to swivel and a pyramid plate (13), and by the fact that a capsule ejection lever (35) engages with the spindle piston (3) whereby the capsule ejector (14) can be swivelled upwards into an ejection position (FIG. 3c) via raising the piston spindle (3) after completion of a brewing process.
 14. Espresso brewing device according claim 13, characterised by the fact that the pyramid plate (13) is replaceable and, together with the capsule ejector (14) on a pyramid support drawer (12), forms a basic unit assembly group.
 15. Espresso brewing device according to claim 13, characterised by the fact that the upper surface of the capsule ejector (14) is provided with a capsule centering device into which one of the single-serving capsules can be inserted horizontally.
 16. Espresso brewing device according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that the horizontal capsule sliding path (41) is equipped with lateral capsule guides (21) and is part of the brewing unit. 